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Monday, April 3, 2017

Uber chronicle

After a long week, it was finally time for the weekend. She
couldn’t wait to get home. She checked both Ola and Uber and they both had
surge prices, so they were going to charge her more than double the usual fare
to get me home. She thus decided to opt for a pool, hoping she will be lucky
enough to not share my cab with anyone. She booked a cab, it was four minutes
away and she noticed that she had to share it with two other people, she
cancelled it. Checked the apps for other options, didn’t find anything. She
booked an uberpool again and got the same cab and it was like 30 seconds away
from where her location. She cursed herself and unwillingly went downstairs.
The cab was waiting just outside the office, she got in. She was sharing the cab
with two other men, let’s call them A and B.

Driver: hello
ma’am, why did you cancel the cab earlier?

She: (I was
pleasantly surprised that we were conversing in English)Oh, I was just trying my luck. I thought I could find a cab which
was closer.

(She was about to plug in her earphones but realised that
the driver was making small talks with A so decided to overhear the
conversation instead. She did find A a little cute though)

Driver: (To
passenger A ) so how do you find Mumbai and Indian politics?

A: I am not a
very good judge, and I don’t like sharing my opinions on politics with the
locals here because they may not take it very nicely. But it does seem that the
politics can improve, not that the US political scenario is any better you see.

Driver: You have
only two parties contesting elections right? We have many here.

A: Yes, only two.
But I am sure having multiple choice is a good idea.

Driver: what are
you doing in Mumbai?

A: I am here for
a 3 months Internship.

( At this, she was all ears to what he was saying. She is a
journalist and such things make a good story. There was silence for some time
until A saw a man driving a bicycle on the road)

A: You guys bike
on the road? I bike back in the states but I cannot imagine biking here in
India on such roads.

Driver: Oh, you’ll see not many people bike in India. But
the middle class uses it at times. It’s a cheap mode of commute you see.

( She decides to intervene )

She: Hi, are you
studying here?

A: No, I am here
for an internship.

She: I write for
education at XYZ publication. Would you like to write an article for me?

A: for sure!

She: here’s my
card. Email me.

( At this B intervenes )

B: You work at XYZ? I work there too

She: Oh what a
co-incidence! Which department?

( they go on and introduce themselves and talk about work)

Driver: Ma’am, I
need to complain about someone in the publication you work in. Who do I get in
touch with?

She: umm.. I
write for education, I don’t have contacts in the other beats but who do you
want to complain about? I can try to help you.

Driver: I want to
complain about you for cancelling the cab earlier.

A: Why are you
bringing that up all the time? She has all the right to cancel your cab and try
to find something faster.

Driver: oh I am
not angry, I am just saying just like that

A: well, it looks
like you are angry. Stop it.

( soon they had reached the place where B had to get off, he
left saying a quick “see you” to her. She was getting dropped off next; she got
off saying a quick bye and asking A to email her)